You’ve heard some version of the saying before: “If you bought it, a trucker brought it.” Indeed, babies are just about the only thing not delivered by trucks. But baby diapers, baby food, and baby clothes? You can thank a trucker. If it weren’t for truck drivers, we’d all be homeless, hungry and naked. And while naked babies might be adorable, I, for one, am very glad that I get to wear clothes.
So, to kick off National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (September 14-20), I’d like to share a few thoughts “out of the mouths of babes”:
Every day, more than 3 million professional truck drivers take to the roads to deliver the goods America needs. In fact, more than 80% of U.S. communities depend solely on trucking to get goods in their communities. Dedicated to serving our industry safely and securely, you might be surprised to learn that:
- 1 out of every 16 people working in the United States is affiliated with the transportation industry.
- Over 26 million trucks haul freight in the United States.
- Most individual long-haul drivers log more than 100,000 driving miles per year, with an average daily run of nearly 500 miles for an over-the-road driver.
- Yet trucks have overall crash rates that are less than half that of other vehicles.
This week, try to find a small way to honor a trucker. Buy one a meal at a diner or truck stop. Use a glass writing pen to write “Thank you, truckers!” on your car windows. Call truck drivers you know and tell them how much you appreciate their work. Deliver cookies to a loading dock. Leave a note at the gas station for the attendant to give to the next trucker who walks in the door. Or share one of these memes on social media. Because remember:
Source for Statistics: American Trucking Association
Happy Monday,
Mary
